Persuasive Writing Lesson 2
Step 1: Look over the topics. Each
issue has positives and negatives or
advantages and disadvantages.
Preview the Topics for Persuasive Writing
sheets at your tables.
• Select three topics to explore.
• Use search engines to explore topics.
• Which one held your interest?
• Which topic has the most clear
information?
Choose one topic for your persuasive writing
piece.
EXAMPLE: Helmets for protection
Many cities are requiring children under the age of
16 to wear helmets while biking, scooting,
skateboarding, rollerblading, and skiing.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of
wearing helmets.
Step 2: Take a stand.
Think about the stand and how you will provide
three reasons for your argument.
Directions for Writing: Write a persuasive essay stating
whether children under the age of 16 should be
required to wear helmets. Give reasons to support
your position arguing in such a convincing manner
that others will agree with you.
Step 3: Prepare the graphic
organizer.
Fold your
paper into 4
squares.
Step 4: Complete the graphic
organizer.
Unfold the paper and draw a box in the
center. In the center box write a sentence
to convey your stand.
Step one
3:NonComplete
the another
graphic
Write
Write
Example:
Example:
reason
reason you
organizer.
helmet
useyou
can
Children
think
helmets
think helmets
cause
more
under
the
should be
should be
traffic fatalities.
age of 16 feel
required.
required.
invincible.
Children under the age of 16 should be
required to wear helmets while biking,
scooting, skateboarding, rollerblading, and
skiing.
It is important to wear a helmet.
Example: Physical
This is one way to prevent
injury from these
fatalities. Children under the age
of 16 need someone looking out
types of accidents
for them because they feel
make demands on
invincible. The serious physical
injuries resulting from not wearing
our health care
a helmet put a real strain on the
health care system.
system.
Write another
reason you
think helmets
should be
required.
Summarize
your 3
reasons.
Example: Children under the
Step
3:
Complete
the
graphic
WriteNon-helmet
3 details
Example:
use age of
16 3
feel
invincible.
Write
details
can cause
more
trafficorganizer.
about
this
•Lack
of maturity
about
this
fatalities.
reason.
•Head injuries
•Reckless
•Understanding
of
reason
consequences Video games
– get another life.
•Unnecessary grief
Children under the age of 16 should be required
to wear helmets while biking, scooting,
skateboarding, rollerblading, and skiing.
Example: Physical injury from
these types
of accidents
make
Write
3 details
demands on resources.
about this
•Long term care
reason.
•Health Care expense
•Convalescent Home
It is important to wear a helmet.
This is one way to prevent
fatalities. Children under the age
of 16 need someone looking out
for them because they feel
invincible. The serious physical
injuries resulting from not wearing
a helmet put a real strain on the
health care system.
Summarize
your 3
reasons.
Step 3: Complete the graphic
Elaborate
organizer.
on one
•Head injuries
ELABORATE
detail.
•Reckless
Example: Non-helmet
use can cause more
traffic fatalities.
•Unnecessary grief
Children under the age of 16 should be required
to wear helmets while biking, scooting,
skateboarding, rollerblading, and skiing.
Example:
Example:
An unhelmeted
motorcyclist
Those
under
16 do not
Step 3:
Complete
the
graphic
Children
under the
is 40 %more likely to suffer a often
consider
theage of
16 feel invincible.
organizer.
fatal head injury and 15%
dedication of a loved
•Lack of maturity
more likely to suffer a
one
caring for aof
•Understanding
ELABORATE
nonfatal
injury than a
quadriplegics
consequences resulting
helmeted motorcyclist when from
•Video
– get
angames
unhelmeted
involved in a crash.
another life.
accident.
Elaborate
on one
detail.
Children under the age of 16 should be
required to wear helmets while biking,
scooting, skateboarding, rollerblading, and
skiing.
Those
under
16 do not
Example:
Example:
An unhelmeted
motorcyclist
Step 3:
Complete
the
graphic
Children
under the
consider
theage of
is 40 %more likely to suffer a often
16 feel invincible.
organizer.
dedication
of a loved
fatal head injury and 15%
•Lack of maturity
one
caring for a
more likely to suffer a
•Understanding of
quadriplegics
nonfatal injury than a
consequences resulting
helmeted motorcyclist when from
angames
unhelmeted
•Video
– get
involved in a crash.
accident.
another life.
Elaborate
on one
detail.
Children under the age of 16 should be
required to wear helmets while biking,
scooting, skateboarding, rollerblading, and
skiing.
NHTSA estimates
Example:
Physicalthat
injury from
these types helmet
motorcycle
of accidents
use saved
make billion
$19.5
demands
in economic
on resources.
•Long from
costs
term 1984
care through
•Health Care expense
2002.
ELABORATE
•Convalescent Home
Elaborate on
one detail.
Step 5: Add transitions.
For example,
Non-helmet use can
cause more traffic
fatalities.
•Head injuries
An unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40
%more likely to suffer a fatal head
injury and 15% more likely to suffer a
nonfatal injury than a helmeted
motorcyclist when involved in a
crash.
•Reckless
Moreover,
Children under the age of
16 feel invincible.
•Lack of maturity
•Understanding of
consequences
Those under 16 do not often
consider the dedication of a loved
one caring for a quadriplegics
resulting from an unhelmeted
accident.
•Video games – get
grief
another life.
In•Unnecessary
other
For these
Children under the age of 16
words, should be required to wear
reasons,
helmets while biking, scooting,
skateboarding, rollerblading, and
skiing.
It is important to wear a
Physical injury from these
helmet. This is one way to
types of accidents make
prevent fatalities.
demands on resources.
Children under the age of
•Long term care
16 need someone looking
•Health Care expense
out for them because they
NHTSA estimates that motorcycle
feel invincible. The
helmet use saved $19.5 billion in
serious physical injuries
economic costs from 1984 through
2002.
resulting from not wearing
•Convalescent Home
a helmet put a real strain
on the health care system.
A list of
transition
words is
online!
Step 5: Add transitions.
For example,
Non-helmet use can
cause more traffic
fatalities.
•Head injuries
An unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40
%more likely to suffer a fatal head
injury and 15% more likely to suffer a
nonfatal injury than a helmeted
motorcyclist when involved in a
crash.
•Reckless
Moreover,
Children under the age of
16 feel invincible.
•Lack of maturity
•Understanding of
consequences
Those under 16 do not often
consider the dedication of a loved
one caring for a quadriplegics
resulting from an unhelmeted
accident.
•Video games – get
grief
another life.
In•Unnecessary
other
For these
Children under the age of 16
words, should be required to wear
reasons,
helmets while biking, scooting,
skateboarding, rollerblading, and
skiing.
It is important to wear a
Physical injury from these
helmet. This is one way to
types of accidents make
prevent fatalities.
demands on resources.
Children under the age of
•Long term care
16 need someone looking
•Health Care expense
out for them because they
NHTSA estimates that motorcycle
feel invincible. The
helmet use saved $19.5 billion in
serious physical injuries
economic costs from 1984 through
2002.
resulting from not wearing
•Convalescent Home
a helmet put a real strain
on the health care system.
A list of
transition
words is
online!
Step 6: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
For example,
Non-helmet use can
cause more traffic
fatalities.
•Head injuries
An unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40
%more likely to suffer a fatal head
injury and 15% more likely to suffer a
nonfatal injury than a helmeted
motorcyclist when involved in a
crash.
•Reckless
Children under the age of
Moreover,
16 feel invincible.
•Lack of maturity
•Understanding of
consequences
Those under 16 do not often
consider the dedication of a loved
one caring for a quadriplegics
resulting from an unhelmeted
accident.
•Video games – get
•Unnecessary grief
another life.
For these
In other Children under the age
of 16
reasons,
be required to wear
words, should
helmets while biking, scooting,
skateboarding, rollerblading, and
skiing.
It is important to wear a
Physical injury from these
helmet. This is one way to
types of accidents make
prevent fatalities.
demands on resources.
Children under the age of
•Long term care
16 need someone looking
•Health Care expense
out for them because they
NHTSA estimates that motorcycle
feel invincible. The
helmet use saved $19.5 billion in
serious physical injuries
economic costs from 1984 through
2002.
resulting from not wearing
•Convalescent Home
a helmet put a real strain
on the health care system.
Each
square will
become a
paragraph.
Step 6: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
• The
introductory
paragraph
(the center
box) sums
up each
reason.
Children under the age of
16 should be required to wear
helmets while biking, scooting,
skateboarding, rollerblading,
and skiing. Not wearing a
helmet results in more
fatalities. Helmets take care of
children who do not
understand the full
consequences of their choices.
Many resources are tapped
caring for those injured as a
result of not wearing a helmet.
Step 6: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
• Begin the
introductory
paragraph
with a hook.
Samples of
hooks can
be found
online.
Mark Twain once said,
“Laws control the lesser man...
Right conduct controls the greater
one.” This can also be said of the
helmet law. Children under the
age of 16 should be required to
wear helmets while biking,
scooting, skateboarding,
rollerblading, and skiing. Not
wearing a helmet results in more
fatalities. Helmets take care of
children who do not understand
the full consequences of their
choices. Many resources are
tapped caring for those injured as
a result of not wearing a helmet.
Step 6: From the graphic organizer
to paper.
Moreove
For example,
Next Paragraph
Non-helmet use can
cause more traffic
fatalities.
•Head injuries
An unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40
%more likely to suffer a fatal head
injury and 15% more likely to suffer a
nonfatal injury than a helmeted
motorcyclist when involved in a
crash.
•Reckless
Children under the age of
16 feel invincible.
•Lack of maturity
•Understanding of
consequences
Those under 16 do not often
consider the dedication of a loved
one caring for a quadriplegics
resulting from an unhelmeted
accident.
•Video games – get
another life.
•Unnecessary grief
Children under the age of 16
should be required to wear
For thes
In other
helmets while biking, scooting,
reason
skateboarding, rollerblading, and
words,
skiing.
It is important to wear a
Physical injury from these
helmet. This is one way to
types of accidents make
prevent fatalities.
demands on resources.
Children under the age of
•Long term care
16 need someone looking
•Health Care expense
out for them because they
NHTSA estimates that motorcycle
feel invincible. The
helmet use saved $19.5 billion in
serious physical injuries
economic costs from 1984 through
2002.
resulting from not wearing
•Convalescent Home
a helmet put a real strain
on the health care system.
Step 6: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
Next Paragraph
For example, non-helmet use
can cause more traffic fatalities.
Those not wearing helmets are
more prone to head injuries. An
unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40 %
more likely to suffer a fatal head
injury and 15% more likely to suffer
a nonfatal injury than a helmeted
motorcyclist when involved in a
crash. Those reckless enough to
endanger themselves without
wearing a helmet are more likely to
also endanger others. These
actions cause unnecessary grief.
Step 6: From the graphic organizer
to paper.
Moreove
For example,
Non-helmet use can
cause more traffic
fatalities.
•Head injuries
Next Paragraph
An unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40
%more likely to suffer a fatal head
injury and 15% more likely to suffer a
nonfatal injury than a helmeted
motorcyclist when involved in a
crash.
•Reckless
Children under the age of
16 feel invincible.
•Lack of maturity
•Understanding of
consequences
Those under 16 do not often
consider the dedication of a loved
one caring for a quadriplegics
resulting from an unhelmeted
accident.
•Video games – get
another life.
•Unnecessary grief
Children under the age of 16
should be required to wear
For thes
In other
helmets while biking, scooting,
reason
skateboarding, rollerblading, and
words,
skiing.
It is important to wear a
Physical injury from these
helmet. This is one way to
types of accidents make
prevent fatalities.
demands on resources.
Children under the age of
•Long term care
16 need someone looking
•Health Care expense
out for them because they
NHTSA estimates that motorcycle
feel invincible. The
helmet use saved $19.5 billion in
serious physical injuries
economic costs from 1984 through
2002.
resulting from not wearing
•Convalescent Home
a helmet put a real strain
on the health care system.
Step 6: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
Next Paragraph
Moreover, children under the
age of 16 feel invincible. They lack
the maturity to make such crucial
decisions on their own. Those
under 16 do not often consider the
dedication of a loved one caring for
a quadriplegics resulting from an
unhelmeted accident. They lack
the ability to not fully understand
the consequences of their choices.
Video games give young people a
false sense of a chance at another
opportunity at life.
Step 6: From the graphic organizer
to paper.
Moreove
For example,
Non-helmet use can
cause more traffic
fatalities.
•Head injuries
An unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40
%more likely to suffer a fatal head
injury and 15% more likely to suffer a
nonfatal injury than a helmeted
motorcyclist when involved in a
crash.
•Reckless
Next Paragraph
Children under the age of
16 feel invincible.
•Lack of maturity
•Understanding of
consequences
Those under 16 do not often
consider the dedication of a loved
one caring for a quadriplegics
resulting from an unhelmeted
accident.
•Video games – get
another life.
•Unnecessary grief
Children under the age of 16
should be required to wear
For thes
In other
helmets while biking, scooting,
reason
skateboarding, rollerblading, and
words,
skiing.
It is important to wear a
Physical injury from these
helmet. This is one way to
types of accidents make
prevent fatalities.
demands on resources.
Children under the age of
•Long term care
16 need someone looking
•Health Care expense
out for them because they
NHTSA estimates that motorcycle
feel invincible. The
helmet use saved $19.5 billion in
serious physical injuries
economic costs from 1984 through
2002.
resulting from not wearing
•Convalescent Home
a helmet put a real strain
on the health care system.
Step 6: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
Next Paragraph
In other words, physical
injury from these types of
accidents make demands on
resources. Those suffering
from injuries received from not
wearing helmets often require
long term care. The cost to the
health care system is great.
NHTSA estimates that
motorcycle helmet use saved
$19.5 billion in economic costs
from 1984 through 2002. Many
spend months in convalescent
homes.
Step 6: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
For example,
Voting is your way to
state your concerns
and beliefs.
•Taxes
•Education
Congress can help or hinder families
trying to raise their children
•War
Every vote counts and is
Moreover,
important.
•Close elections for office
Everyone remembers the 2000
election between Bush and Gore that
was too close to call for weeks.
•Close elections for
laws/decisions
•Send mandates to the
government.
In other
Voting is not only the privilege
words, but the responsibility of every
For these
reasons,
18 year-old.
Through voting we practice
"democracy“ which we are
trying to bring to others.
•Example being set
Summary
Paragraph
•Demonstrate belief in
democracy
•Respect for lives being lost
protecting democracy
2,000 American Troops that have lost their
lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and
the right to vote to that nation.
It is important to exercise the
right to vote. Through this
process our beliefs and
concerns are conveyed.
Although many election
contests are won by
comfortable margins, some
have been so close that a
single vote has made the
difference. We must show the
world the importance of voting
in a democracy.
Step 6: From the graphic organizer
to paper.
Moreove
For example,
Non-helmet use can
cause more traffic
fatalities.
•Head injuries
An unhelmeted motorcyclist is 40
%more likely to suffer a fatal head
injury and 15% more likely to suffer a
nonfatal injury than a helmeted
motorcyclist when involved in a
crash.
•Reckless
Children under the age of
16 feel invincible.
•Lack of maturity
•Understanding of
consequences
Those under 16 do not often
consider the dedication of a loved
one caring for a quadriplegics
resulting from an unhelmeted
accident.
•Video games – get
another life.
•Unnecessary grief
Children under the age of 16
should be required to wear
For thes
In other
helmets while biking, scooting,
reason
skateboarding, rollerblading, and
words,
skiing.
It is important to wear a
Physical injury from these
helmet. This is one way to
types of accidents make
prevent fatalities.
demands on resources.
Children under the age of
•Long term care
16 need someone looking
•Health Care expense
out for them because they
NHTSA estimates that motorcycle
feel invincible. The
helmet use saved $19.5 billion in
serious physical injuries
economic costs from 1984 through
2002.
resulting from not wearing
•Convalescent Home
a helmet put a real strain
on the health care system.
Summary
Paragraph
Step 6: From the graphic
organizer to the paper.
Summary
Paragraph
Ending PUNCH
For these reasons, it is
important to wear a helmet.
This is one way to prevent
fatalities. Children under the
age of 16 need someone
looking out for them because
they feel invincible. The
serious physical injuries
resulting from not wearing a
helmet put a real strain on the
health care system. Protect
yourself and others…wear a
helmet!
Step 7: Vocabulary
Review your paragraphs.
Can you add adjectives
(describing words)
and interesting adverbs
(describing action words)?
ADJECTIVES
ADVERBS
Step 7: Vocabulary
BEFORE:
Many resources are tapped
caring for those injured as
a result of not wearing a
helmet.
AFTER:
Many precious resources
are exhausted caring for
those seriously injured as
a result of not wearing a
helmet.
Step 7: Vocabulary
Remember: The more
sophisticated
vocabulary you
use…the higher your
score.
bad
dreadful
Step 8: Visual Expression
Use metaphors and
similes to give your
essay more visual
expression.
The
costtotothe
thehealth
The cost
care
system
health
care drains
system
our
economy like a
is great.
leaky faucet.
Step 9: Reread Your Work
Reread your work to make sure you have:
Taken a stand and stay on the topic
Given your reasons in the introductory paragraph
Have paragraphs that support each reason
Elaborate on a reason in each paragraph
Have a summary paragraph that restates your
reasons
Begin each paragraph with a transition word
Include adjectives, adverbs, similes, and
metaphors